ALBUM REVIEW: Battles – La Di Da Di

In spite of the departure of founding member Tyondai Braxton which preceded it, Battles’ last album Gloss Drop was a triumph. This time out, they’ve dispensed with the guest appearances and produced an altogether more taut affair where the extravagant twists and turns are replaced by a more urgent sense of rhythm. If you’re hoping for lurid technicolour romps like Ice Cream, it might feel a little flat until the futuristic intensity of the likes of Summer Simmer grabs you and you realise Battles Mk III are an entirely different beast to previous incarnations. La Di Da Di proves that the only safe expectation when it comes to Battles is that they’ll never do what you expect them to.